With tens of thousands of world-class sports stadiums found worldwide, if not hundreds of thousands. Clearly, there will be some that stand out from the crowd. From North America to the United Kingdom and India, dozens of incredible sports stadiums are to be discovered.
Here are 12 of the best that you should try to visit at least once, whether it be NFL stadiums, soccer stadiums, or cricket stadiums.
Madison Square Garden
MSG has been one of the biggest stages in sports for decades. It has hosted multiple concerts, Wrestlemania, basketball games, political events, and almost everything in between. While it may not be the biggest, it has some of the deepest and richest histories in the world.
Fenway Park
Outside of the United States, there are very few baseball stadiums more famous than Fenway Park. Home to the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park has been on the bucket list of locals and travelers alike due to its over 100-year history and its place in the story of sports and baseball in the United States.
Wembley
While the United Kingdom is home to many famous sports stadiums, few are more famous and iconic than Wembley. It has hosted dozens of football finals, London NFL games, concerts, and royal events. Wembley was also where England won the World Cup in 1966, beating Germany 4-2.
AT&T Stadium
While there are dozens of incredible collegiate and pro football stadiums across the States, very few are as eye-catching and beautiful as the AT&T Stadium in Texas. AT&T can hold over 100,000 people home to the Dallas Cowboys and has played host to multiple boxing and wrestling matches, concerts, and many other sporting and entertainment events.
Santiago Bernabeu
When it comes to soccer stadiums, you need to head across the pond to Europe if you want to find the best. The Bernabeu, home to Real Madrid, is steeped in history, and no matter who Madrid is playing, it is intense, loud, and 90 minutes of pure footballing joy.
Anfield
Home to Liverpool, Anfield is arguably the best soccer stadium in England. You are met with a chorus of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before kickoff and the Kop waving flags and banners and singing throughout the game. The goosebumps you will feel won’t disappear for hours after you leave.
Camp Nou
Real Madrid has one of the best sports stadiums in the world, and so do their fierce rivals Barcelona. Camp Nou was the home to one of the best players ever for years. It has a giant museum dedicated to the team’s success and a section for the man himself, Leo Messi.
Ibrox
While not the biggest or the prettiest stadium, Ibrox has been the battlefield between Rangers and Celtic for ages. Once the scene of riots between the opposing fans, Ibrox has calmed down but is still the place to be if you want to witness one of the fiercest and longest-running rivalries in sport.
Narendra Modi Stadium
While Australia, England, and South Africa may have some legendary cricket grounds, you need to head to India if you want to see the most jaw-dropping one. The Narendra Modi Stadium can hold nearly 135,000 people,
Pancho Arena
The Pancho Arena is a small stadium in Hungary that is the home to Puskas Akademia. With a capacity of just under 4000, it is famous due to its exquisite architecture. With hundreds of beams, pillars, and arches, Pancho is a piece of art more than a stadium.
Maracana
Once the biggest stadium in the world, the Maracana in Rio is widely regarded as the home of football in South America, and it has played host to multiple finals and tournaments. It holds the record for the highest attendance at a game ever, with nearly 200,000 attending the World Cup final between Uruguay and Brazil in 1950.
Beijing National Stadium
Finally, the Beijing National Stadium, or the Birds Nest as it has come to be known, was built for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The almost 100,000-seater stadium is a marvel of architecture, with sweeping curves, beams, and lights that create something that almost looks like it is living.
Featured Photo by Chris Appano on Unsplash
